Media articles and stats: Purring Tigers thrash poor Saints

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Match report: Purring Tigers thrash poor Saints

Callum Twomey
afl.com.au
Jul 20, 2018 10:37PM

ST KILDA     1.2    2.3     5.7     8.9 (57)

RICHMOND  6.4  11.7   14.10  16.15 (111)

GOALS

St Kilda: Membrey 2, Gresham 2, Hickey, Marshall, Steven, Weller
Richmond: Riewoldt 4, Prestia 3, Caddy 2, Higgins, Martin, Lambert, Cotchin, Rioli, Edwards, Grigg

BEST
St Kilda: Ross, Steele, Steven, Gresham, Geary
Richmond: Prestia, Martin, Rance, Riewoldt, Short, Lambert

INJURIES
St Kilda: Nil
Richmond: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: O’Gorman, Pannell, McInerney

Official crowd: 36,269 at Etihad Stadium

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LOOK out, Collingwood.

Richmond meets the Magpies next week at the MCG in what shapes as the biggest and most anticipated game of 2018, and the Tigers had the perfect tune-up on Friday night.

They completely dismantled an inferior St Kilda outfit at Etihad Stadium, notching a commanding 54-point win and going another step closer to securing their top-of-the-ladder spot.

All Tiger eyes will turn to the Pies in next Saturday's blockbuster and, on the evidence of the 16.15 (111) to 8.9 (57) win over the Saints, they'll hit it in top shape.

Richmond's fast start – they kicked six goals to one in the first term – all but ended any hope of the Saints springing a surprise to open round 18.

The reigning premiers would have been buoyed by the performance of Dion Prestia, who was close to best afield with three goals and 26 disposals (including four centre clearances) from the midfield.

As always with Richmond it was no solo performance, with spearhead Jack Riewoldt booting four goals, Dustin Martin starting the game brilliantly and finishing with 30 touches and seven inside-50s, while Kane Lambert (23 disposals), Jayden Short (26) and Shane Edwards (19) were also excellent.

If Nathan Buckley and his Magpies were hoping for some clues on how to chink the Tigers' armour, it didn't come via the Saints. 

St Kilda was able to stem the bleeding from the first half after the main break, but they had few winners on the night. Seb Ross had 33 disposals through the midfield and Jack Steven (23) was solid, while Jade Gresham kicked two goals from his 24 disposals and was lively at times.

The floodgates opened early. Martin was the beneficiary of a soft free kick and made the most of it in the opening minute.

By the end of the first term Richmond had piled on another five majors to lead by 32 points and with all signs leading towards another comprehensive win.

As they do, the Tigers shared the spoils around, with six individual goalkickers for the term.

The Saints were trying and had just two fewer disposals for the quarter, but they were up against a team that is ferocious and disciplined in its defence and selfless in attack.

Richmond clearly smelt a big win on the cards.

Riewoldt kicked two for the second term and set up another when he lobbed the ball at the top of the square for Prestia to rove perfectly and boot his second goal of the quarter, too.

Everything was coming off for the Tigers and their dominance was reflected in the 58-point margin at the main break. The Saints' resistance, which was evident early, had been worn down by a Richmond outfit so well drilled and hungry for success that there was no chance of a second-half turnaround.

The Saints started the third term in better touch, with a brilliant soccer-style volley goal from the pocket by star midfielder Steven lifting spirits.

But it was short-lived, as the Tigers got the game back on their terms with Riewoldt dominant in attack and their midfield guns creating too many chances.

For all of St Kilda's efforts in the third quarter, they caught up only one point as they trailed Richmond by 57 at the last change.

The Saints made up a little more ground in the final quarter as the game remained in a holding pattern, but by then you couldn't blame the Tigers if they had one eye on next week. Everyone else certainly did.

MEDICAL ROOM

St Kilda: Saints youngster Bailey Rice hurt his shoulder in a marking contest in the opening quarter. His night appeared over as he left the field in pain, but he returned in the second term and played out the game.

Richmond: A clash of heads saw Martin require some treatment – and will leave him with a black eye for the next few days – but it was nothing that caused the Brownlow medallist too much trouble.

NEXT UP
It's a huge game next week at the MCG as Richmond takes on top-four aspirant Collingwood in the traditional Saturday afternoon slot. St Kilda travels to Spotless Stadium to face Greater Western Sydney on Saturday as it limps towards the end of the season.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-07-20/match-report-saints-v-tigers

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Richmond shows its home town dominance against St Kilda with 20th-straight win in Melbourne

Chris Cavanagh,
Herald Sun
21 July 2018

ANYONE still want to talk about Richmond’s interstate record?

It might have made a good headline after a fourth loss from as many games on the road to Greater Western Sydney last week but when you are the undisputed kings of the jungle in Melbourne it really doesn’t matter much.

The Tigers chalked up their 20th straight win in Melbourne, belting St Kilda by 54 points at Etihad Stadium, and their premiership defence could not be better placed.

This time last year the Tigers sat 11-6 with only two of their final five games at the MCG.

Now, they are 13-4, on top of the ladder, have a short injury list and four of their final five matches to come at the home of football only a stone throw away from Punt Rd Oval.

What a dream.

The Saints weren’t exactly a scalp, but the way Richmond went about it was most impressive.

The Tigers’ ball movement from defence to attack was as slick as it has been all season, as was their clearance work.

The only thing that could stop Dustin Martin early in the evening was a blood rule after a head clash in the second quarter, last year’s Brownlow medallist racking up 16 disposals, four clearances and a goal in a stellar opening 60 minutes.

But this Tigers team is far from a one-man show.

Dion Prestia (26 disposals, three goals) produced arguably his best game of the year, Jack Higgins continues to grow in his first season and Jayden Short is blossoming since missing last year’s Grand Final.

Jack Riewoldt shone with four goals on the night that honoured his late cousin Maddie, Kane Lambert continues to hurt opposition sides and Toby Nankervis was again gallant in the ruck.

As much as they improved dramatically after trailing by 58 points at halftime, the damage was done for the Saints.

And while it’s hard to point fingers at the young players, the leaders were as much at fault as anyone.

Tom Hickey missed a set shot from 25m directly in front in the first 11 minutes, Jaryn Geary dropped a mark he should have taken 30m out straight in front soon after and Jake Carlisle turned over a 15m sideways kick straight onto the chest of a Richmond opponent early in the second term.

It was far from the only turnover, either.

The Saints struggled to hit targets by foot and simply could not break a Richmond defensive structure that was watertight.

In the corresponding game last year, the Saints kicked 10 of the first 11 goals.

This time it was Richmond who did the reverse.

It again posed the question — where is St Kilda headed?

Since toppling the Tigers in by 67 points in Round 16 last year the Saints have posted six wins and a draw from 24 outings.

That 9-6 start to last season seems a distant memory.

But we know where Richmond is heading and there are more than 99,000 members licking their lips as September draws ever closer.

ST KILDA 1.2 2.3 5.7 8.9 (57)

RICHMOND 6.4 11.7 14.10 16.15 (111)

GOALS

Saints: Membrey 2, Gresham 2, Hickey, Marshall, Steven, Weller

Tigers: Riewoldt 4, Prestia 3, Caddy 2, Higgins, Martin, Lambert, Cotchin, Rioli, Edwards, Grigg

BEST

Saints: Gresham Ross, Armitage, Steven

Tigers: Prestia, Martin, Riewoldt, Short, Cotchin, Lambert, Edwards, Nankervis

INJURIES

Saints: Nil

Tigers: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: O’Gorman, Pannell, McInerney

Official crowd: 36,269 at Etihad Stadium

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/richmond-shows-its-home-town-dominance-against-st-kilda-with-20thstraight-win-in-melbourne/news-story/1072a9d121c92eadfd95a0b8b6b40640

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Martin back to dominance as Tigers make a statement against Saints

Jon Pierik
The Age
21 July 2018

This was a night when there were highlights aplenty for Richmond but it was a relatively low-key moment that summed up why they strode to a 54-point win over a listless St Kilda on Friday night.

It came 12 minutes into the second term when Jack Riewoldt marked more than 50 metres from goal and had a decision to make. Already with two goals to his credit, on a night dedicated to raising money for the Maddie Riewoldt Vision, a foundation established in honour of his late cousin, the champion forward could easily have opted for the ‘‘hero’’ kick.

Instead, he chose to pop the ball up about 20 metres from goal. The ball spilt from a pack, allowing Dion Prestia to pounce on it and drill the Tigers’ ninth goal.

This contest was already over to that point – the Saints had one goal – but it reinforced how selfless the Tigers have become, in particular Riewoldt, who had struggled to always follow the team decree during the club’s lean years.

Riewoldt finished with four goals and is arguably in career-best form as the Tigers take aim at successive premierships. They were so dominant their ability to flip the ball around, find space and hit a target by foot or hand meant this too often resembled something of a glorified training session, leaving this as yet another fizzer in the marquee timeslot for the AFL and broadcasters.

The ease of the Tigers’ victory was a surprise considering the Saints had won three of their past four matches, prompting coach Alan Richardson to declare through the week his team was ‘‘building’’ momentum. However, the only momentum Richardson had at quarter-time was vigorously questioning his players after the Tigers had opened up a 32-point lead.

Their efficiency was shown in that they booted six goals from 15 inside 50s. Jayden Short, enjoying a fine season, contributed four of the inside 50s, while Dustin Martin and Kane Lambert found plenty of the ball.

Martin, playing with a contagious confidence, even arrogance, after a mid-season lull, finished the night with 30 touches. He had a cut to the side of his eye after a clash with Josh Battle in the second term but it did not hinder him.

Prestia, a fellow midfielder, continued his strong form since returning to the side three weeks ago, having 26 disposals and contributing three goals.

Ruckman Toby Nankervis set the scene in the middle, while his physicality around the ground was instrumental in the Tigers’ runners finding space.

The Saints, smashed in contested ball, were held to their lowest half-time total against the Tigers since 1975. Veteran David Armitage, having enjoyed a strong month, spent time on Martin but was unable to find the ball himself through the night. Jack Steven worked hard and will have a goal-of-the-year contender after his mid-air swipe in the third term from about 10 metres out in the pocket sailed through but the Saints, lacking class, had few counters to the Tigers’ run and crisp defensive set-up behind the ball, the latter led by pillars Alex Rance and David Astbury.

Kane Lambert’s commitment to the cause was reaffirmed late in the first term when he ran back with the flight of the ball and marked inside forward 50.

The Tigers may have lost narrowly to Greater Western Sydney last week but they remain a step ahead of most teams. Just how far will become clearer over the next fortnight when they face Collingwood and Geelong. They also have depth, and the selections heading into the finals will be intriguing.

RICHMOND 6.4 11.7 14.10 16.15 (111)
ST KILDA    1.2  2.3    5.7    8.9 (57)

GOALS: Richmond: Riewoldt 4, Prestia 3, Caddy 2, Martin, Rioli, Higgins, Lambert, Edwards, Grigg, Cotchin. St Kilda: Gresham 2, Membrey 2, Armitage, Steven, Weller, Marshall.

BEST: Richmond: Martin, Lambert, Riewoldt, Prestia, Short, Nankervis, Rance. St Kilda: Armitage, Ross, Gresham.

UMPIRES: Pannell, McInerney, O’Gorman.

CROWD: 36,269 at Etihad Stadium.

VOTES
Dustin Martin (Richmond) 8
Dion Prestia (Richmond) 8
Jayden Short (Richmond) 8
Jack Riewoldt (Richmond) 8
Toby Nankervis (Richmond) 7

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/martin-back-to-dominance-as-tigers-make-a-statement-against-saints-20180719-p4zsbh.html